Sequencing-based neutralization of 91 H3N2 and H1N1 hemagglutinins against 302 human sera (27,409 titers) shows reduced titers to H3N2 subclade K and H1N1 D.3.1.1.

Virus Evolution · Jan 1, 2026Peer-reviewedMicrobiology✦ In-depth digest

Near real-time data on the human neutralizing antibody landscape to influenza virus to inform vaccine-strain selection in September 2025

Caroline Kikawa, John Huddleston, Andrea N. Loes, Sam A Turner, Jover Lee, Ian Barr, Benjamin John Cowling, Janet A. Englund, Alexander L. Greninger, Ruth Harvey, Hideki Hasegawa, Faith C. S. Ho, Kirsten Lacombe, Nancy Leung, Nicola S. Lewis, , Jesse D. Bloom

The paper quantifies neutralizing antibody responses to influenza strains using sera collected in 2024-2025 to inform vaccine-strain selection for 2025.

Virus Evolution · Jan 1, 2025Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Rapid neutralizing assay for circulating H5N1 influenza virus in dairy cows

Kei Miyakawa, Makoto Ota, Kaori Sano, Fumitaka Momose, Takashi Okura, Noriko Kishida, Tomoko Arita, Yasushi A. Suzuki, Masayuki Shirakura, Hideki Asanuma, Shinji Watanabe, Akihide Ryo, Hideki Hasegawa

The paper develops a rapid neutralization assay for H5N1 influenza virus in cows and shows cross-reactivity of antibodies against circulating H5N1.

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses · Dec 1, 2024Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Neutralizing antibody evasion of SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 derivatives KP.3, KP.3.1.1, LB.1, and XEC

Kaori Sano, Kei Miyakawa, Hideaki Kato, Yayoi Kimura, Atsushi Goto, Akihide Ryo, Shinji Watanabe, Hideki Hasegawa

The paper evaluates neutralizing antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 variants in vaccinated individuals, finding significant immune escape by some variants but robust cross-neutralization by JN.1-based immunization.

Vaccine · Nov 5, 2024Peer-reviewedImmunology

In vitro characterization of multidrug-resistant influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses carrying a dual amino acid substitution associated with reduced susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitors

Emi Takashita, Seiichiro Fujisaki, Masaru Yokoyama, Masayuki Shirakura, Kazuya Nakamura, Tomoko Kuwahara, Noriko Kishida, Hironori Sato, Ikuko Doi, Yuji Sato, Shinichi Takao, Yukie Shimazu, Takeshi Shimomura, Takuo Ito, Shinji Watanabe, , The Influenza Virus Surveillance Group of Japan

The paper characterizes multidrug-resistant influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses with specific neuraminidase substitutions and their resistance profiles to antiviral drugs.

bioRxiv · May 30, 2018 · PreprintMicrobiology